When you rent an apartment with Edwards Communities, you are choosing to make your home with us. We consider that an honor, and want your experience to be a positive one from the time you move in until the end of your lease. With over 30 years of experience under our belts, we have learned a few things about apartment living that we’d like to share with you.
We’ve compiled a full year’s worth of weekly tips and suggestions that will help you live successfully in your apartment —such as decorating ideas, safety pointers, cleaning shortcuts and more. Here’s our Tips List for the third quarter of 2017:
Tip #1: If you can’t paint the walls in your apartment, paint your furniture instead. The contrast in color against a neutral wall will make your furniture pop, and add charm and character to your room.
Some communities will let you paint the walls, but others discourage it. White walls aren’t such a bad thing — you can still get the color you are craving by painting the furniture. Plus, it’s quicker, less messy and easier to change when you want to switch colors or styles.
Tip #2: For safety’s sake, if you live alone, don’t advertise it. Keep your blinds closed when you’re not there, especially at night when your lights are on so no one can see in.
This is just good advice for wherever you live. Preserve your privacy and be aware of your surroundings.
Tip #3: Make it look like you’re home when you’re on vacation. Put your lights on timers, stop your mail and have a trustworthy neighbor keep an eye out for unusual activity around your apartment.
You may also want to post vacation photos to social media after you get home.
Tip #4: To make a room look larger than it is, remove clutter and decorate with light colors to promote the feeling of openness.
You will be surprised how much bigger your apartment looks when you put away shoes, clothes, magazines and dishes.
Tip #5: Are we ever too old for a chore chart? If cleaning is getting away from you, schedule yourself to clean one room per day. Each room will never be more than a week behind.
Cleaning a little bit at a time might be easier and more manageable than trying to do it all in one day.
Tip #6: Good old-fashioned flashlights are good to have around when the lights go out and your phone is dead. Be sure they are stocked with fresh batteries, too.
Most of us rely on our phones – but flashlight batteries last longer than your phone’s battery if the power is out for an extended amount of time.
Tip #7: Under the bed storage bins are a great way to store items you don’t use very often and saves more closet space for the things you do!
Under the bed storage bins contribute to your efforts to unclutter your apartment. Just box up those items and slide them out of sight under your bed.
Tip #8: Use a trunk for a coffee table. It’s stylish and practical. Use it to store blankets, magazines, or anything else that can be tucked away for future use.
It’s also a comfortable place to prop your feet when you’re watching a movie or reading a book.
Tip #9: Keep an emergency phone list handy on your phone or on the refrigerator. Include your doctor, a vet, emergency maintenance, your apartment manager, neighbors you trust and family members.
In a stressful situation, you’ll be able to locate those important numbers faster.
Tip #10: Trying to eat healthier? Keep your refrigerator stocked with cut up vegetables and fruit for quick snacks. An organized pantry with healthy food items helps, too.
If you don’t buy the junk food, you won’t eat it. Having something healthy that is easily available will increase your chances of making a good eating decision.
Tip #11: Keep a master grocery list on the back of your pantry door, then check the items you need to get the next time you’re at the store.
If you consider it a chore to make a list, this will save you tons of time. You’ll probably save money too, if you use a list and stick to it.
Tip #12: If you’re a coffee lover and plant fanatic, hang on to your coffee grounds! They make great plant fertilizer and also keep the pests away.
Who knew plants could benefit from coffee almost as much as we do?
Tip 13: Using rugs reduces the sound in your apartment, and muffles voices and footsteps for your neighbors below. Plus they are soft, warm and comfortable to walk on!
Rugs are easy to change if you are ever looking for a different color or new style for your apartment.
We hope you found these apartment living tips helpful! We’ll have a whole new Tips List for you next quarter. If you have any questions about Edwards Communities, our communities’ beautiful amenities, or where they are located, please visit our website!